November 22-25, 2015

Arrived in that glorious airport and whooshed the kids away as we disembarked with all the other folks.  Going through customs?  4, maybe 5 minutes.  and here I was asked in Swiss German how long we’d be staying and I answered back…! I am home. We headed through the airport underneath to the train which whooshes you wherever you need to go in Switzerland, only I didn’t get tickets, so I left the kids, headed back upstairs and was asked by an older Swiss couple if I could help them out with their tickets, which I could not, so fortunately, I handsome young fella in a scarf (MEN IN SCARVES ARE SO DAMN SEXY.  Seriously.  I will snap a few shot).  The train trained (Drove?  Headed?  Trucked?)through Oerlikon, (where I once lived) which is a section of Zurich much like Queens in New York or North Beach in SF, on its way to the main train station -  Haubtbahnfoff.  Oerlikon is where I attended many a concert at Hallenstadeon: Joe Cocker, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Bruce Hornsby – others like U2, Pretenders, Bon Jovi, Queensryche were in different cities.  We disembarked from the train and…my children gasped once they saw the beautiful sunset sky on BahnhofStrasse.  We were meeting a contact for our AirBnB at 5:25, so I grabbed us Cerverlat and a Buerli (sausage and bread-roll) right away and we ate with happiness. Soon, Olivia approached us…poor thing – I hugged her, which I think may have frightened her. I forgot to hold back (you’re not in the US, lady) and on our way to the bus, bought the largest heißes marroni there was.  Ethan has been dreaming of these for years.  We eventually got to the apartment – Marco has to move out at the end of the month, too, so it is mostly packed up.  I feel the pain.  After she left, we walked to Coop and bought bread, cheese, chocolate, Basler leckerli,  and that delicious apple juice with 90% apple juice 10% pear juice.  It is the nectar of the gods.   We devoured all the items within the first 3 hours of being in Zurich and I feel a bit of shame.   I am The Mother – The Parent and I exhibit very little self-control when it comes to these things.  Later today - we head to the hotel and we will explore Zurich.  I need to get back to bed – up at 1:30 isn’t very good on my part.

 

Annnndddd I finally fell asleep.  Kids had also been up and eventually fell asleep, as well.  It is good they have received a bit of the jetlag bug since they bragged beforehand. I awoke around 8 and enjoyed the peace.  I showered if there is one thing IZ need to say about this place – they water pressure is the best I have ever experienced.  Has anyone ever gone to Bella Cappeli in Placerville and had Nicole wash your whair?  It was like that – only over your whole body.  Oh my god yum.

I toasted the bread and got out the remainder of the cheese, which wasn’t much.  We ate breakfast and then the kids got ready to go.  Ethan showered also and said the same thing (repeatedly – even hours later).  My plan was to head to the Viaducts in the Industrial part of of town.  Here, viaducts form 1894 have been converted into shopping areas and it is stunning. The inside sells all sorts of delicious items – cheeses, baked goods, chocolates and has restaurants and coffee areas, but the further areas have clothing shop[s, show shops, a ritzy audio shop, an children’s daycare (which had adults in it eating lunch together).  We then walked down a bit to the 7 story stacked shipping containers which had been converted into Freitag-  a shop that converts trucking tarps in messenger bags/purses, wallets, etc.  I purchased a blue bag about 6 months ago and today I got a smaller bag after the kids and I walked up to the top of the 7 stories to view the city of Zurich.  

After a fruitless search in all sorts of directions for an electrical adaptor (it worked last time at Caroline’s apartment, I don’t know why it isn’t working now), we headed back to the apartment (AirBnB) and packed.  Since I am not familiar with Wipkingen and the damn suitcase I brought weighs more than Wisconsin, rather than getting on the wrong tram and going all over, we walked to our hotel – which was about half a mile from the Freitag store.  Our room was lovely – small but with three beds and three duvets.  Also a hot tea maker, a Migros store just down the road, a marroni stand and Jung’s Bakery across the street.  Ethan and I went to explore a bit.  He was amazed with Migros – which also had additional stores in the vertical mall it was.  There is just something about all these special items, it even amazed Ethan – though I’m so tired I’ve forgotten what it was.

We headed towards town to get dinner, but rush hour meant the trams were fuller than sardines on a field trip.  BahnhoffStrasse was glorious, with lights hanging everywhere.  It has been so long since I have been here at Christmas time.  As the kids and I rounded the bend to see the Living Christmas tree, tears suddenly filled my eyes and I was short of breath.  I missed my father suddenly so very much.  Niederdorf was also lovely with light and decorations everywhere.  The brisk air was wonderful, though the kids complained. As we sat on a lovely restaurant, I heard a couple of very promising things via email:  1) the head if the Montessori School I am interviewing in tomorrow would like to meet me, so our time has been pushed back, 2) the International school I once attended is hiring teachers is  now hiring, so I have an opportunity there.  I would much rather be a therapist there, but ok.  Another wonderful thing here is all these gorgeous men, so clean cut and wearing scarves.  I have fallen in love at least 5 times and am making a  lot of eye contact with smiles.  Granted, I wouldn’t be able to say a word as I’d freak out, but my oh my, the eye contact is great.

 

Back to the hotel to play Farkle and be so ultimately exhausted.  It has been a long 2 days, but how I love this city.

I slept much better last night, though again I was so exhausted at 9:45, I couldn't go downstairs to the lobby (free wifi) to post.  I had a nightmare...that I had sex with a my ex.  Nice guy and all, but no.  I prefer this land of barren desert with no "hope of water" to that.

When it was time finally time to get up, I did and they wouldn't.  I suddenly recollected those horrid mornings when Mami and Tanti would force us up in Europe.  I suppose I really am the grown up if I am making them do that.  Breakfast wasn't included as it had been in Hotel Sternen, it was in a restaurant across the street and as nice as the people where, it didn't suit my kids.  No problem, there will be marroni later, I know.

We headed up the hill to the Montessori school-it was so lovely, in an old villa (sound familiar AISZ?) it serves about 44 children, 20 would be in my group (3-6) as I would be the English Montessori teacher.  Hoch Deutsch and Schwiitzerdütsch are also spoken here, which is perfect.  I viewed the rooms and was astounded at the quality of materials: all wooden furniture, Nienhus materials, everything simply the best.  There could be an issue with my AMS certification, rather than AMI, and Switzerland has somehow managed to certify the Montessori philosophy in a specific manner, so I will need documentation about my work history.  I was asked if I had a husband and when I said, no I am on my own, I think that may have thrown sweet Monika a bit, but I believe I have a position here, should I so choose.  Yay!  Score one, though  I don't know if the husband part of it is a bad thing or not.

After MIC, we went to Limmatquai to meet with Jonathan  who is a financial consultant.  I've meet him (and his wife) through Facebook and their love of this country.  I agree and feel the same.  Every moment my molecules are screaming, "We're here!  We're here!"  It's simply fabulous.  There is so much here, but like everything, that is in the eye of the beholder. I think my kids are a bit wary...I've shown them nothing yet other than walking and marroni, really.

We looked for food...Raclette Stube was closed, and so was another, yet I came across a working man's Bier Halle which was filled with older people and an older waitress.  We were stared at so fiercely as we entered I thought perhaps kids weren't allowed or maybe we all had parse my in our teeth.  The food (a Weinerschnitzel-type meat) was great and food livened the kids up.

Time for ice skating!  The kids and I hopped on the tram to the Dolder Bahn, which travels up the hill and off they went, having fun as I sat inside and watched. Such fun...  Ethan was uncertain, initially, assess Mags, but it didn't take long before they were off.  I sat and considered... I need to find out what more is needed here for my degree in therapy.  I've seen ads about children who are abused and neglected....  Do I need additional classes?  More supervision (surely)?  What?  I feel Montessori is my foot in the door, since my teaching credential isn't cleared and I've just finished my degree.



After the kids were worn out with skating, we hoped back through glistening snow to the Dolder Bahn and headed back into town.  Goal one:  get playing cards to play Joker (and an extra set for Tatjana).  Goal 2, buy breakast items so we didn't have to buy breakfast.  Goal 3, for the cost of a large marroni, Ethan said he'd shave.  This.Is.Huge.  I purchased additional Mach 4 blades (I use these, myself) and Nivea shaving gel, then we headed for some dinner at Santa Lucia, who has delicious Pizza Margherita.
Staying true to our deal, we went *back* to the Haubtbanhoff after and bought marroni.  I'm excited...  The Universe truly works in mysterious ways....




Pictures:  all pictures of my glorious city - I shall specify at a later time.